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📆The Lowdown📆

A recap of the general goings-on around NWI and Indiana writ large.

  • Mosquitoes in LaPorte County were confirmed to contain West Nile Virus this past week. This is the first positive test for West Nile in the county so far this year and is commonly spread through mosquitoes. Most people who are infected do not experience any symptoms, but can experience fever, rashes, diarrhea, aches, vomiting and headaches after 2-6 days post-bite. It’s important for people to be safe and apply mosquito repellant if they are outside around dusk or dawn.

  • Hobart City Council unanimously passed a resolution in support of the locked-out BP Whiting Refinery laborers who have been without work since March during an ongoing contract dispute between the union and energy company BP. With the support of Hobart Mayor John Huddlestun and the Common Council joining multiple towns in NWI, residents and politicians are eagerly awaiting a resolution to this ongoing worker lockout. More than 800 laborers have been without work or pay since BP locked out striking workers toward the end of March, with returns to the bargaining table yielding no results thus far.

  • In the revival of Region Idol - a singing competition in the vein of American Idol - a Crown Point High School graduate came out on top this past weekend. Jayla Miller, 17, won this year’s Region Idol competition in the inaugural relaunch of the famous singing bout. Miller and other podium placing singers - Valparaiso student Justine Sage Olson and Lake Central senior Miranda Ailani Gutierrez - performed at the Taste of Crown Point this past weekend to celebrate their wins.

  • Indiana Dunes National Park ranked in the top 10% for National Park attendance across the country, with more than 2.65 million people visiting the park in the last 12-month period. This does not include visitors to the neighboring Indiana Dunes State Park, which is the most visited state park in Indiana.

  • U.S. Steel has announced that they are planning to invest $350 million into the relining of its largest blast furnace at the Gary Works campus. More than 1,600 workers are assigned to the relining of the No. 14 blast furnace, which burns coke, limestone and iron ore to create iron - which in turn gets made into steel for a variety of industrial purposes. These reinvestments will ensure the blast furnace continues operation for decades to come.

  • For the third year running, Crown Point will be hosting the World Wiffle Ball Championship at the Crown Point Sportsplex. Taking place August 15th & 16th, teams from all over will come to compete in a single elimination bracket to crown the winner. Last year, the town hosted 57 teams and the Lomard Lightning were crowned victors, going home with the Princess City Crown. More info can be found at worldwiffleball.org.

  • Mitch Markovitz, legendary local artist and creator of the iconic South Shore Line poster series, has passed away. His work helped to redefine the Calumet Region for a new generation, paying homage to the legacy of this area and diversifying its iconography into a visage that now sits in art galleries, museums, offices and public spaces across the Great Lakes region. A Chicago native who spent years working as a railroader, Markovitz helped to design the original Metra uniforms and served as the art director for the South Shore Line starting in 1984. His work on the relaunch of the South Shore Line posters in the 90s cemented his legacy as a Region legend - a legacy that will live on for many years to come.

  • Markovitz and an example of his art highlighting landmarks around the South Shore Line

  • In a partnership between the Lake County Health Department and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, a new community food locker will be opening up this week at the Lake County Health Department in Crown Point. The food locker aims to make nutritious food more accessible to those in need, with both refrigerated and shelf-stable food available through this new, self-service food pantry. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Friday, July 24th at 12 pm at the Lake County Health Department.

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Your NWI Weather Forecast For This Week

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➡️What’s In, What’s Out?⬅️

A recap of the comings and goings in the world of local NWI businesses.

  • Smash-N-Subs has opened up in Hammond in the former Capriotti’s space at 902 Roby Drive. A burger and deli joint that specializes in classic-style smashburgers, Smash-N-Subs focuses on quality food in a sphere of food spots that is dominated by franchise fare.

  • Mike and Utoria’s Candy Shop has opened up in downtown Whiting. Located at 1112 119th Street, the sweet shops has a wide offering of different candies and specialty beverages. Mike & Utoria’s also holds community events like game nights and paint-and-sips.

  • The Standard Subs in Michigan City (@1208 E 2nd St) has added a second location in New Buffalo, MI. Fresh subs made with Turano Bread and Boar’s Head deli meat have become a local favorite in Michigan City, so now the folks of New Buffalo get to enjoy these offerings as well.

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🎟️What’s Going On in NWI?🎟️

Every issue of NWI Explored, we give you the best events and spots to check out during the current month.

Everything Going on In July!

July Events will be continually added throughout the month!

Summer Schedules

  • Free Events are highlighted in GREEN

Here is the schedule for the Lake County Corn Dogs Baseball team below! The Lake County Corn Dogs are a pre-professional, independent baseball team based out of Crown Point in the Northern League.

Every Friday throughout the Summer, take to Sheridan Plaza in Whiting for a FREE , all ages concert.

Find the week-to-week schedule for the South Shore Adult Baseball League right here!

The historical local baseball team, the Deep River Grinders, have their summer schedule listed right here as well.

Journeyman Distillery’s third annual Summer Music Series - a twice-a-week live music experience out on the lawn in front of the distillery. Grab a cocktail or a handcrafted meal and lay out under the string lights for a great night of courtyard music and vibes. Find the June schedule below.

July Promotions for Gary Railcats!

Valpo Downtown Summer Concert Series Schedule!

The schedule for Running Vines Winery in Chesterton’s July Events!

Coming Up in July!

Downtown Valpo’s Summer Concert Series Begins on July 9th, running every Thursday through August 27th

The Northwest Indiana Symphony will once again be doing their South Shore Summer Music Festival this year - a traveling swath of performances across NWI throughout the month of July. They begin in Lansing, IL on July 17th, then go to: Valpo - July 22nd; Gary - July 24th; Crown Point - July 25th; Munster - July 28th; Griffith - August 1st.

Munster Parks and Recreation Department presents Movie Night in the Park! Each month, enjoy a free movie in Centennial Park - complete with concessions and glow accessories. This upcoming screening will be July 20th with The Bad Guys 2. August 3rd will be Zootopia 2 and September 11th will be Freakier Friday.

Buckley Homestead’s Guided Hikes Through the Night - Every Tuesday in July!

Byway Brewing will be hosting a Parks and Recreation themed Trivia Night on July 21st. Waffles, Lil’ Sebastian, Ron Swanson and all the quotes you can remember will help you test your mettle.

2026 Crown Point Car Cruise - Every Tuesday

Pop-Up Play Dates - Courtesy of the Lake County Parks Dept.

Take part in the 2026 Evans Scholars Invitational - where the PGA Stars of tomorrow compete in the premier golf invitational of the area. Running from July 23rd to the 26th at The Glen Club in Glenview, Illinois!

You can find out the live music accompanying this next event down below in our Live Music Recap, but this is your official notice that the Porter County Fair is back! July 23rd to August 1st, partake in a unique combo of rides, food, 4-H exhibits, activities and tons of live music.

For the 5th year running, South Shore Roller Derby’s Summer Crush is back and better than ever. Inspired by the challenges and trials of strength from classic shows like “Legends of the Hidden Temple”, this year’s summer showdown will surely be fierce, competitive and a whole lot of fun. July 24-26!

Three days of music, art, food and fun, LaPorte Lakefest will be taking over the city on July 24-26th. Live the Lake Life all weekend with this year’s slate of live music, steamboat rides and even a brewfest. There’s something for everyone this year at Lakefest!

Three decades running (and no sign of stopping soon), Whiting’s iconic Pierogi Fest returns once again this July 24th through the 26th. A host of wacky characters lead you through tons of food vendors, plenty of pierogis of all different varieties, the Mr. Pierogi Songfest, Buscia’s Cooking Show, and so many other unique events you can’t get anywhere else! Below, you can find the full entertainment schedule for the festival as well.

Kites Over Kid Biz returns to Stoney Run County Park again, filling the sky with kites on Sunday, July 26th. Giant kite displays and a massive kite show kick things off before giving way to a Kid Biz Market - where young people are able to sell handmade goods, crafts and stuff from small businesses. Creativity and youthful ingenuity flow freely at Kites Over Kid Biz!

Humane Indiana Wildlife and Four Corners Winery invite you to partake in a special celebration on July 26th: Wine and Wildlife! Live wildlife ambassadors, arts and crafts for kids, and a connection to nature are all on the docket for this special event.

The next installment in Journeyman Distillery’s Jazz Sessions is coming up on July 26th! Slow down, sip a cocktail and enjoy some live jazz from some of the finest Jazz musicians in Chicagoland!

The legendary and award-winning XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix returns to the shores of Lake Michigan - running from July 27th to August 2nd. High speed races, meet-and-greets, block parties, golf outings, live music, a brewfest and tons for the whole family to partake in: this is sure to be an event you won’t want to miss out on. The full itinerary can be found right here.

Mansion After Hours: The History of the World’s Fair of 1893 at Barker Mansion

Downtown Valpo’s Sidewalk Days returns on July 31st and August 1st. Find the list of participating retailers right here. Shop local and find one-of-a-kind goods at all of the lovely proprietors in downtown Valpo during this special weekend sale.

The City of East Chicago’s FUSIC Fest

🎶🎶Live Music in NWI! 🎶🎶

🌽Farmer’s Market Rundown🌽

A look at the local farmer’s markets and the like that will be running imminently

Recurrent Events:

  • Here we will try to aggregate all of the weekly specials available to Explorers around the Region. If you own a local business and want people to be aware of your weekly specials or events, let us know by sending an email to [email protected]!

  • Every Thursday this summer is Music on the Porch Day at Fair Oaks Farms. Clock in for some live tunes while looking out at the scenic farmland of Fair Oaks Farms. Click here for a schedule and more info.

  • Every Tuesday, from 4-8 pm, is Crown Point Car Cruise Night this summer. Meeting at Bulldog Park each week, take in some classic cars and take a classy drive around town!

  • Tuesday is Trivia day at White Rhino in Dyer. Find out more about this weekly event at the link here. Wednesday at White Rhino is Bingo night, starting at 6:30pm.

  • 18th Street Brewery has its weekly Music Trivia and Karaoke night every Wednesday. Doors open at 4pm, with trivia starting at 6pm. Find out more here. On Thursday nights, they also host a weekly Line Dancing night with host Mizz Coco. Find out more here.

  • Shady Creek Winery hosts a weekly live music event each and every Sunday. Find a schedule of upcoming artists at the link here.

  • Anderson’s Winery in Valpo hosts weekly live music each and every weekend. Find a schedule of upcoming performances at the link right here.

  • Find out info about the classes and everything the Chesterton Art Center has going on here. The Center constantly has events for beginners, young artists, and apprentices alike, so anyone looking to build their skills and learn new ones should keep tabs on what the Chesterton Art Center has going on.

  • Off Square Brewing in Crown Point hosts a weekly Bingo Night on Thursdays, running from 7-9 pm each and every week. One lucky number can make you the big winner of the night! Find further info here. They also host a weekly Trivia Night on Wednesdays from 7pm.

  • Up Your Alley in Schererville has regular specials all week, perfect for families and groups of friends. Monday is a bowling special, Tuesday is Laser Tag, Wednesday is Dark Rides, and Thursday is the Arcade. Find more info and the specific deals available each week right here.

  • Every Monday, from 7-9 pm, Journeyman Distillery in Valpo hosts a Trivia Night. Three rounds of trivia keep the night alive, with teams of up to six people fight to win the grand prize every week. Find more info right here.

  • Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake has a weekly wine special running through dinner service. Happy hour specials and heavily discounted bottles every single Wednesday!

  • Every second Saturday each month, Beale Pottery in Westville hosts a “Make Cool Stuff Club”. This is a group that meets to, well, make cool stuff in the form of pottery! Find more info about the spot and their events right here.

  • On the last Tuesday of every month, Downtown Highland hosts a restaurant crawl. This community event always features a bunch of the local spots offering specials and deals, so its a great way to spend an evening hopping from meal to meal. Find more info right here.

  • Tiny’s Coffee Bar in Miller Beach has recurrent events every single week. Check out their page to find the full slate of events.

  • Marina Shores Yacht Club in Portage has Live Music Thursdays every 3rd Thursday of the Month! Find more info right here about lineups and performances.

  • Sip Coffee House in Highland has a Wednesday Game Night every single week from 6-9pm. In partnership with the Northwest Indiana Board Game Association.

  • Valparaiso Pathways Committee holds Free community rides once a month during the warmer months. Click here to look at their schedule of group rides across the city.

  • Conway Observatory in Lowell hosts open houses once a month for all ages to come in and take a look into the deep stretches of space. Totally free and with different focuses at each open house, you can learn about a host of cool space topics across the year. Find their schedule at the link right here.

  • Getting into photography or a seasoned vet looking to get out there and shoot more? Lake County Parks Photo Club has regular meetings every 2nd Wednesday at Turkey Creek Golf Course, with regular field trips out in the NWI expanse. Find more info and the full schedule at the link right here.

  • Gibson Woods Nature Preserve in Hammond holds a weekly Hike through nature every Wednesday. Find their full schedule right here. Pre-registration is required.

  • Miller Beach Arts and Creative District holds a free community yoga session every Sunday, beginning at 10am at the District building. Find info and other event listings here.

  • For all the fellow writers out there, Tiny’s Coffee Bar in Miller Beach holds a weekly writing group each and every Saturday, starting at 10:15am. Sometimes all it takes to spark inspiration is being around fellow creatives. Find more info about the group right here

  • The Dig the Dunes Beer Run & Wine Walk will be starting up on April 23rd, running once a month through the summer and early fall. A new spot in the Dunes area will be selected each month, with a 2-3 mile walk/run taking place before the group kicks back to enjoy a drink along the lakeshore. Find full information at the link right here and find the schedule right below.

  • Starting on April 25th, and running every Saturday through August, Indiana Dunes National Park’s 1966 Hiking Challenge begins! 19 hikes that cover 66 miles of the Dunes Park trails, celebrating the foundation of the park in 1966. Every Saturday at 8:00 am, hokes will take place in different areas of the park ranging from 1-7 miles. Complete them all and you earn a free 1966 Hiking Challenge sticker to show off to the world. For more details and specifics, click here.

  • Whiting Cruise Night runs every month on the 3rd Wednesday, starting on May 20th and running through the summer. Find more information about the event right here.

Happy Exploring,

Eric & Luke, The NWI Explored Team

❝

“My hometown... was always there, at all times, unchanging. What I think... is not that we go back to our hometowns, but that someday our hometowns come back into each of our hearts.”

Jiro Tanaguchi

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